This would be his best chance but he still has a few tough matches to go through. He'd be the heavy favorite but they won't be easy matches. He has Haas which he should get through, but possibly Monfils and Del Potro and most likely Andy Murray on the other side. I hope he doesn't crack under the pressure of not having Nadal in the draw anymore though
Man-what an upset. Apparently, the dude that beat Nadal is supposed to be a real jerk. Too bad...but that's what Rafa gets for wearing a pink shirt.
Nadal didn't look right throughout the tournament. Even against Hewitt, there were signs that he was off his game despite the results. He has looked a step slow from day one and just wasn't playing nearly as cleanly as we've seen in the past. At the same time, Soderling looked awesome. You can't take anything away from him. He dictated the entire match and was literally overpowering Nadal. He very easily could have won in 3 straight sets. With the success Nadal had in Australia combined with other tournaments, he's already played more than half the matches that he played all of last year. That could definitely be a factor in his poor showing. One thing is for sure... that was not Nadal at his best for whatever reason. He had beaten Soderling 6-0, 6-1 on clay just a month earlier. Only Murray can stop Federer at this point but I think Federer will find a way to get it done if they do meet in the finals. Murray has owned Federer in the past but the finals of a major is a different animal. Federer has never lost one to anybody other than Nadal and I expect it to stay that way.
This sucks. I don't want Federer to get the career grand slam just like I don't want Kobe to get a ring without Shaq. Now it looks like both of these will happen in June.
In honour of the French Open, Por Quoi? I'm a fan of all three people, Federer, Kobe and Shaq. I see nothing wrong with them winning.
kobe is an arrogant prick... federer doesn't come off that way at all. I hope he gets this french open.
Poor guy Federer still can't prove himself by defeating Nadal on the clay for once. I wonder if Michael Chang at his prime stands a chance against Nadal on the clay.
WTH? Michael Chang never lived up to the hype after he won the French at age 17. That was the one and only major he ever won. A better comparison would have been Guga or especially Thomas Muster.
Federer actually beat Nadal a couple of times on clay, both in the finals of ATP Masters just before the French. The most recent one was just a couple of weeks ago in Madrid, Spain.
The one great thing about federer is he does not out in the early rounds. The only guys that gave beat him in last 19 grand slams has been the person to win it all. I think nadal might be better than federer now, but the consistently federer still shows is incredible.
I think Chang screwed himself over because he refused to have anyone other than his brother as his coach. He had the tools they just weren't utilized properly I think.
man its upsetting for nadal lol.. i woulde have loved to see him break the record with 5 wins at roland garros. O well, U cud tell he wasnt gnna win and no doubt that guy was playin exceptionally well... Lol i dno bout Federer either he also seems to be switched off this tournament but like nadal said i hope he does win it because hes been in the final so many times to get beaten by him =/ and if Fed dont win it i hope someone like Murray wins UK pride haha
